On Monday evening Boy Child and I boarded the 525 to Glasgow bound for a venue we haven’t visited in three years. Has it really been that long?

We were heading off to see The White Buffalo at the city’s O2 Academy. Originally the show had been scheduled for the O2 ABC but, a good sign I guess, it had been upgraded to the larger O2 Academy.

The O2 Academy is one of Glasgow’s iconic art deco buildings. Built in 1932 in the Gorbals area of the city, it was originally the New Bedford Cinema. The last film screened there was a double bill of Dirty Harry and Klute on 8 July 1973. In October of that year the building reopened as a Mecca Bingo Hall then in 2002, after a multi-million-pound refurbishment, it was transformed into the music venue that it is today. It really is very pretty inside. Have a look –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mAYsaBLeJo

Rail position for the evening secured, Boy Child and I patiently waited….and waited… and waited… A jazz/funk/ska/soul PA tape was playing – not my genre of choice. Eventually at 8.15, over an hour after the doors had opened, the support act for the evening Alice Drinks The Kool Aid took to the stage. These guys are a Chicago based blues/indie rock trio. I’m going to adopt my “Thumper Principle” here – if you can’t say nuffin’ nice don’t say nuffin’ at all.

I was suddenly missing that jazz PA tape…..

An hour later The White Buffalo took to the stage to huge cheers. The venue wasn’t full but the large crowd were enthusiastic from the start. With a gravelly polite “Good evening, Glasgow”, The White Buffalo aka Jake Smith opened the ninety minute set with Hide And Seek followed, with barely a pause for breath, by Dark Days.

The pace for the evening had been set and we were off and running at full pelt!

One of the highlights of the night was Border Town/Bury Me In Baja from The White Buffalo’s latest album Darkest Darks Lightest Lights.  This song really showcases the talents of all three members of the band. Despite the country influences here there are strong punk manic energies flying through making for some awesome drumming and bass. Perhaps the only thing not quite at its finest was The White Buffalo’s voice. Already he was struggling a bit.

The second song from the new record (ok its 6 months old now) slowed things down a bit as The White Buffalo played a soulfully beautiful rendition of The Observatory. This was a gorgeous moment to behold.

After a brief pause to comment on the beauty of the venue and commenting, “I do miss the disco ball a bit”, The White Buffalo began one of my favourite songs on the set Oh Darlin’ What Have You Done. I love this song although, two days later, I’m still singing it! Ear worm warning! (Fans of the show Sons of Anarchy will be familiar with this one as it featured in season 6) The crowd were certainly loving it as much as I was…and I suspect many are still singing it!

You can’t fault the pace of this show. Twenty-two minutes in and the band had reached the seventh song on the set list. The White Buffalo himself may be a huge “mountain man” but he fairly packs a punch live.

Avalon, again from the latest album, proved to be another crowd favourite as the fans sang along passionately.

A couple of guitar strums were all the fans needed to announce another of the highlights of the night, Come Join The Murder. With his voice really starting to suffer, the Scottish fans, especially those in “cuts” sang their hearts out during the Sons of Anarchy song. TV series angle aside, this is a fantastic song and might actually have been my favourite of the night.

Two songs later The White Buffalo introduced an “old song” inspired by John Jameson whisky. By now Jake Smith was sounding like he needed a “hot toddy” to soothe that throat. John Jameson is a song sung straight from the heart. Loved it.

Another story teller song followed a few minutes later as they played Joe And Jolene. It was obvious that the band were having as much fun playing this one as the crowd were having listening to it. Brilliant!

Whistling proved to be easier than singing… marginally. The haunting whistled intro to The Whistler, another song featured in Sons of Anarchy, hushed the fans as they hung on every word of this powerful song. Even with his voice “fucked up” (Jake’s description not mine) this was another highlight performance of the night. Loved it.

I Got You and The Pilot rounded off the set and, I’ll be honest, I thought we’d heard the last for the night. I’ve no idea how The White Buffalo made it that far as he was clearly suffering from some lurgy or other.

I was wrong.

Ever the professional, Jake, The White Buffalo himself, returned to the stage a few minutes later to everyone’s amazement and delight. Playing solo, he treated us to Wish It Was True. Every fan in the room was more than happy to help him with the vocal chores. Having thanked the fans once more for coming out, the rest of the band joined him on stage for the final energetic, frenetic song of the night How The West Was Won.

With a gutsy performance while obviously under the weather, The White Buffalo certainly won over the West Coast of Scotland.

Great night. Hurry back but make it the O2 ABC- I missed the disco ball too.